Dalhousie University observes African Heritage Month
Dal community leaders ushered in African Heritage Month at a launch event in Halifax Wednesday with a clear message for the nearly 150 schoolchildren who joined in this year’s celebration: remember those who came before you.
“I lift up my ancestors and thank them for the sacrifices they made so I could be here today,” said Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dal’s assistant vice-provost equity and inclusion and event MC, in opening remarks at the gathering.
“And I acknowledge each and every one of your ancestors. So, give your ancestors a round of applause.”
The request was answered with an eruption of cheers — one of many such moments punctuating the event, including later following the raising of the African Nova Scotian flag on Studley Quad.
Dr. Hamilton-Hinch engages with schoolchildren on Wednesday in LeMarchant Place atrium.
The pan-African flag was raised separately on Dal’s Truro Campus on Wednesday.
Extending an invitation to the students from St. Joseph’s-Alexander MacKay Elementary (SJAM) created a lively atmosphere at the university’s first in-person African Heritage Month kick-off since 2020. The event was organized by Dal’s Office of the Vice-Provost, Equity and Inclusion, and Human Rights and Equity Services.
Johntae and Syvaya, two African Nova Scotian students from SJAM, offered greetings on behalf of their school.
“At our school, we honour and celebrate Black culture every day,” said Syvaya, a Grade 5 student from the North End school, which has been temporarily relocated near Dal during construction of their new school.
Johntae, a Grade 6 student, stressed the importance of appreciating how “Black people and people of African heritage have contributed to our society for generations.”
Speaking in unison, they concluded with a message encouraging year-long learning and action: “Remember that this month is a symbol and that every month should be Black history Month. Black lives matter.”
Johntae and Syvaya address attendees.
Reaffirming Dal’s commitments, honouring a legend
Frank Harvey, Dal’s acting president and vice-chancellor, shared details at the event about some of the many ongoing initiatives underway at the university to support students, staff, and faculty of African descent.
“This month is an opportunity for all of us to reaffirm Dalhousie’s commitment, our institution’s commitment, to supporting people of African descent within our university community,” he said.
He noted Dal’s African Nova Scotian Strategy and made specific reference to a new cluster-hiring initiative that will increase the number of faculty members of African descent at Dal in five different areas of research and expertise (more on this on Dal News next week).
Dr. Harvey addresses attendees.
Attendees also had a chance to honour Oluronke (Ronke) Taiwo, who retires this April after 14 years as Black student advisor for Dal and the University of King’s College.
Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Dal’s vice-provost, equity and inclusion, presented Taiwo with an Award for Black Excellence at Dal in recognition of her service.
“Black women like Ronke are social activists, they’re mentors, they’re change agents, and they are scholars and intellects. They are all of the above,” she said. “You deserve to be applauded for that accomplishment.”
Pride in heritage
Wayne Desmond, a Dal law student and seventh-generation African Nova Scotian with roots in New Glasgow and Guysborough County, said he carries his communities’ heritage and contributions with him every day.
“They made me who I am,” he said. “There’s so much pride that comes with African Heritage Month with 400-plus years on this soil. I think it’s important to acknowledge that it didn’t come without hardship. We faced slavery, segregation in the past, and now we face systemic barriers consistently.”
Wayne Desmond.
But he also heralded the contributions of those who’ve helped fight back against racial profiling and inequities facing Black people in accessing public services. “It’s important to pay homage to our ancestors for their contributions to Canada’s infrastructure and changing all of our systems to make it better and fighting against systemic racism every day. For that, I am thankful.”
Speakers and attendees closed out the day’s activities with a quick walk around the corner to the flagpole near the Killam Memorial Library where participants worked with Dal Security to hoist the flag.